Professor Sir Alexander Fleming - Penicillin Its Practical Application - 1946

The only book that Fleming prepared regarding his discovery of the antibiotic properties of penicillin (Norman Library of Science and Medicine 800)

“Fleming made his discovery in 1928 and published his earliest paper on penicillin in 1929. But the substance was difficult to purify, and did not become available in large quantities until Howard Florey and Ernest Chain successfully mass-produced it at the beginning of the Second World War. It was during this conflict that penicillin proved its worth, successfully treating hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers. The present volume was published shortly after the war”.

The expectation was that penicillin would soon be available commercially, but "there was not yet an authoritative British book for the guidance of the practitioner in its use" (preface). It contains an introduction by Fleming on his discovery of penicillin and twenty-six other essays on the history, manufacture, and clinical use of the drug by "experienced and eminent men" who were among the earliest to experiment with and prescribe it. A key work on one of the most significant medical breakthroughs of the 20th century, published while the therapy was still "very young and rapidly evolving" (preface). Bibliography: Norman Library of Science & Medicine 800, Printing and the Mind of Man 420, Garrison-Morton medical bibliography 1933.

Item Description
First edition, and first printing of this fascinating work on Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin, edited by Fleming himself. In this work, Fleming traces the discovery of penicillin, noting its practical application in medicine.

The book is illustrated with 59 illustrations, including black and white figures, and photographic plates. Published by Butterworth & Co. Ltd., London, 1946. Publishers’ original green cloth boards with gilt rules and lettering to spine.

Book Dimensions: 22.5 x 14.5 cm and Number of Pages: 380 including index.

Condition
Firm and well-bound copy. External covers in nice shape, slightly faded and marked and with light wear to corners and to head and foot of spine. Internally; the book in very condition indeed. No names or inscriptions. Inner hinges are very good, and pages are tightly held at gutters. Pages are bright. Text and illustrations are very clean (Lovely Scarce Copy) (Please see pictures).